It’s been a while since I’ve run competitively, but the years in which I ran cross country in high school remain some of the most growth-filled years of my young life. While running certainly isn’t for everyone, I find it hard to believe their is a better sport in which you can learn about yourself and your limits. When you run it’s just you, your shoes, and the pavement.
While I only ended up being a mediocre high school runner, I worked my butt off to get the results I did. My running career involved overcoming injuries, pushing through pain, and testing my own self limits. One of my biggest lessons came when I completed my first ten mile run.
I was never a big fan of long runs, yet in order to become the best runner you can be it’s required. There was a point when I was so scared of running ten mile runs, that I would literally tense up and drop off a 10 mile run after a single mile.
The irony was, I could do three or four mile runs in my sleep. Yet there I was falling off a ten mile run at the mile marker just because I scared.
It took a while of feeling sorry for myself, but one day after finally falling off over a dozen longs, I decided that I had had enough. I was going to make a ten mile run come hell or high water. I was going to do it. I believed I could do it.
Needless to say the next run I completed, leading the group, even running one of the faster times for a ten mile run. It was possible.
How was I able to complete my first ten mile run?
It’s All In Your Head
I realize the saying it’s all in your head is at times overly simplistic, but I can’t reiterate how powerful it is to know you control your reality. Sure there are times of bad luck, and sometimes we are dealt bad hands, but you always have control over the space between your ears.
For the longest time I couldn’t complete a ten mile run because I thought about all the pain it would bring. I thought about how I wasn’t tough enough. I thought about why considering my rather lazy history, that I couldn’t compete with the elite. And what do you know? That’s what happened.
The moment I began believing I WAS capable was the moment I won and fear lost.
The truth is, there was no way I should have been falling off those ten mile runs at the mile marker. Physically I was ready to complete a ten mile run, but I let the thought of “I’m not good enough” take control. As Henry Ford once said, “whether you think you can or can’t you’re right.”
Positive thinking doesn’t make all things possible, but your belief in your success opens up doors that otherwise not be open. If you’re currently stuck take notice of how you think. Are you holding yourself back from certain success? I know I was.
Have a Worthy Goal
When I decided that I wanted to finish a ten mile run with my cross country group, there was nothing I wanted more at the time. I was so tired of falling off and seeing kids I knew I raced better than complete the run. I was so tired of feeling sorry for myself. I wanted nothing more than to conquer every step of that ten mile run. So I set my sights on doing it.
When you have a worthy goal you’re going to push through the pain or the set backs. But if you could careless about the goal, when it gets tough, you’re simply gonna throw in the towel. In my case it was my determination to succeed that pushed me through. The run was still painful, I still had to battle, but I knew that I wanted to succeed.
I finished my first ten mile run absolutely exhausted, but it made me me realize what’s possible.
Take a moment and reevaluate your current goals. Do you really want to make them happen? Or are you trying to impress those around you? Having a worth goal is half the battle, the other is showing up.
Surround Yourself With Excellence
It’s no surprise that some of the most successful individuals or sports teams have a great group to support them. Do you think Steve Jobs does everything himself? No. He surrounds himself with a great team that helps him see his vision through.
One of the reasons I was able to pull off my long run is because I ran with a group dedicated to excellence. They wanted to become the best runners they could be so they consistently pushed themselves through the inevitable pains of becoming a better runner. I would have struggled to complete my ten mile run if I was going solo.
If you surround yourself with people who have an incredible interest to succeed it’s impossible for it not to wear off on you. Find people who motivate you. Find people who want to make the world a better place. Often times it’s simply your social circle that’s holding you back from making your dreams your reality.
What are you trying to accomplish? Is your social circle helping you move closer to that goal? While you certainly can accomplish much on your own, surrounding yourself with people with passion and determination won’t hurt.
I hope my personal story helps you realize that regardless of what you want to accomplish you can take significant strides if you just believe in your own ability. Kick fear to the curb and start living the life you’ve always craved. I’m going for a run a for the first time in two years.
Awesome story. I’ve just started jogging, and it feels great. I probably won’t be competing at all (Well, I’m competing with myself every time I’m out jogging).
If you haven’t read it, you should read Haruki Murakami’s “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running” and you should visit a very interesting blog called No Meat Athlete. Both resources are very inspiring, just like your story…
@Jens! Thanks man for stopping by. I’ll be sure to check them out.
It’s like you smashed your own belief barrier. And they say the 2 biggest influences in your life are the people you surround yourself with and the books you read. Both big influences on the space between your ears
Hey Katie! It certainly wasn’t easy to overcome my fears but with a little work and perseverance anything is possible.
I think it’s really important to surround yourself with excellence, like you said. It’s amazing how influential and motivational it is.
It can be applied to running, career, or any aspect of your life. I like to constantly surround myself with successful people who help me with my goals, just like you do.
Great post!
-Gabe
If we surround ourself with positive progressive people, we will become this. Rogue scholars roll with rogue scholars. If you want to achieve something its best to work with a team of people that will support you can help you achieve your dream. It starts with association and end with you making that decision. The decision to socialize with people who are smarter and more talented than you are.
Hi Bud,
That’s a great anecdote that illustrates how our limiting beliefs can keep us stuffed in a jar. We can see things we desire outside that jar, but we are enslaved by limiting opinions that stop us from reaching out. If advancement is to be evolutionary, it must be revolutionary. We came to this planet to stretch farther and reach higher – to have breakthrough after breakthrough. We have all done it to some degree, whether with running 10 miles or or asking someone on a date… the good news is if we can overcome a belief once we can do it two times… and if we can do it two times we can do it a lifetime.
I’ve never enjoyed running all that much Bud, but I find physical goals to be one of the best metaphors for accomplishing anything in life.
I am currently working toward a 400lb bench press, 550lb squat, and 625lb deadlift. I have wonderful training partners who inspire and encourage me.
Since I am getting over some serious injuries, they are always there to push me to my limits, and to remind me when it’s time to back off and let the body rest.
Like I said, what a fantastic metaphor for achieving anything in life! Thanks for sharing your story!!
I loved this because I could relate. I did many 5Ks and a 10K when I was in my 30′s. Always looking at the marathon from a volunteer’s standpoint and wishing. After walking to lose weight and get my blood sugars down to normal in 2007, I decided to make a commitment to myself to be the best I could be…not to challenge anyone else, just me, for the rest of my life. I completed 2 half-marathons (12/’09 and 3/’10) with the idea that I would run the Disney marathon in January of next year for my 50th birthday to myself. After many months of lumbar pain, I was diagnosed with multiple bulging and a herniated disc. Running was no longer a choice! But, I can still walk it with my chiropractor’s blessing as long as I don’t overdue it and keep getting my back checked out. So, it is my goal to complete the race to the best of my ability and that will be walking so I can keep my back healthy and walk for many more years to come. I have become an inspiration to those around me for that reason. I lost 60 lbs in 3 years and I am in the best shape of my life.
I love this article Bud it’s well written. Just recently I started jogging and I’m starting to learn more and more about my self by doing so. Thank you for putting your thoughts out there it’s wonderful how much you really do help.
Hey man,
Awesome, congrats on the big achievement. The most I ever ran was 10km, not miles. Guess I have never needed to, but I wanna start running more often, been slacking off.
Oh well, first going to enjoy another few weeks of vacation:)
Hope you are well!
Cheers
Diggy
That’s a really great story bud.
As someone who’s done a bit of work in schools with high-achievers from sports lessons, you’re absolutely right when you say its mainly in your head. As Tony Robbins says, SUCCESS is 20% Mechanics and 80% Psychology. For nearly all things in life we can learn the mechanics of what we want to achieve, you already knew how to run, and all that was left was getting the psychology right.
Well done you!
pure awesomeness bud!
Bud,
I learned this same lesson when I was a midshipman at the Naval Academy. Before entering I was really afraid I would not be able to meet the minimum requirements on the physical fitness test. To pass (D-) you had to run 1.5 miles in 10:30. At that time the fastest I had ever run it was in 11:15.
When the test actually came, I ran it in 9:15 and had energy to spare. It was pure psychology and headspace.
Similarly, in my senior year we had to swim 50 yards totally submerged, in uniform, without breaking the surface in any way. I never completed this swim in practice. But when the actual test came, I decided I was going to pass, or the divers were going to have to pull my unconscious body from the pool.
I passed easily.
Again, it was about where my head was at.
Same thing with the Marine Corps Marathon. I ran it, and at mile 12 I was certain I would never finish. I did, running the entire time, and did so in under 4 hours (which is excellent for me).
State of mind got me through. When doubts came in, I battled back – mentally.
When we control our minds, we can accomplish anything.
Great story! Congratulations!
Chris
@Gabe: Absolutely man. You certainly can get caught up in worrying too much about who you hang around with but it’s important that you hang out with people who are going to help you grow. Certainly, it’s important to help people who are struggling but make sure to keep your own goals in mind as well.
@jonathan: Good point my mind. Although I think the terms “smarter and talented” are entirely up to a person’s perspective. For example a Janitor may have better people skills than a person who has a business degree from Harvard.. you never know. Surely that’s an over used example, but the important thing is connecting with people fully and learning from them all you can regardless of their preconceived stereotype.
@Rob White. Thanks for your comment man. Yeah I shared my ten mile story because I knew many people would be able to relate even if they had never run before.
Break barriers and new doors will always be opened.
@Joshua: Cool man. Yeah, physical goals are pretty fun to accomplish because they are often visual, but asking a girl out on a date is just as impressive.
@Karen Thanks for sharing! My mum suffers from a herniated disc as well. Not fun I can assure you. Best of luck with your recovery.
@Diggy: What are you waiting for man?
@Chris! Damn dude. That’s impressive. My two mile PR was only 10:57 haha but with a mile time of 4:54 I should have been able to break ten.
Great examples man!
@Ivan dude when are we gonna skype??!
Thanks so much for this article. My biggest problem when running is definitely between my ears!